COLUMBIA, Mo. - Evan Winder didn't spend the practice time leading up to the Class 3 state wrestling championships trying to add anything.
"We just worked on the little things, trying to perfect a few things," Helias coach Bryant Gaines said.
It was time well spent, as Winder posted a 10-7 decision against Frederick Johnson of Hazelwood East at 106 pounds in the opening round of the tournament Thursday at Mizzou Arena.
Winder scored a reversal with 1:15 to go in the first period to tie the match at 2, then put Johnson on his back and led 5-4 heading into the second period.
Starting up, Winder put Johnson on his back again in the second period to take an 8-4 lead. He led by as many as five points in the final period before settling on the three-point final margin.
"He worked that guy pretty good," Gaines said.
Winder finished fourth in his district, while Johnson was a district champion. But Gaines isn't sure the outcome should be viewed as an upset.
"Evan came out of a very tough district," he said. "I can see the four kids who advanced to the finals in that district doing the same thing here."
Winder (49-7), a freshman, will face Jacob Oyler (30-7), a sophomore from Farmington, in this afternoon's quarterfinals. Action will begin at 1:30 p.m.
With a win, Winder would move to tonight's semifinal round.
"He thinks he can make it and that's the biggest part of the battle," Gaines said.
First Round
106 - Evan Winder, fr. (49-7) won 10-7 against Fredrick Johnson, jr., Hazelwood East (35-11).
Quarterfinals
106 - Evan Winder, fr. (49-7) vs. Jacob Oyler, soph., Farmington (30-7).